Jonathan Bolar gets time to replace attorney in federal case

Appearing in U.S. District Court on Monday in connection with his 16-count federal indictment, Gretna City Councilman Jonathan Bolar asked for more time to find an attorney a week after a judge granted his previous attorney's request to withdraw from the case.

In a motion filed Sept. 4, Clarence Roby sought to be dropped as Bolar's attorney, saying he could not continue to represent the councilman because of Bolar's "failure to communicate with counsel and honor his financial obligations."

Susan Poag/The Times-PicayuneJonathan Bolar's previous attorney has withdrawn from the case As a result of not being paid, Roby said he could not hire experts to help Bolar's defense, according to court records.

Bolar said Roby's allegations were "not quite accurate."

"There's a big discrepancy, " said Bolar, who did not elaborate. He speculated that Roby, who he said has been his attorney for about 25 years, filed the motion because he had been "overwhelmed with cases" and wasn't receiving advance payment for his representation on the case.

Roby did not return calls seeking comment.

Bolar will have another week to find a new attorney or will have to appear in court Monday, Magistrate Louis Moore said. Bolar said he has narrowed down the search to two lawyers.

Bolar's trial date is set for Nov. 9 before Judge Lance Africk. He is charged with four counts of extortion for allegedly demanding about $100,000 from his constituents in exchange for his support on zoning variances. He is also charged with four counts of failing to file income tax returns from 2003 to 2006 and eight counts of illegally structuring financial transactions to avoid bank reporting requirements.

If convicted of all charges, he could face more than 120 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether the federal government will add more charges to Bolar's indictment. Jefferson Parish district attorneys last week asked federal prosecutors to examine three unrelated theft charges that Bolar was booked with by the Gretna Police Department on May 21. He allegedly took $40,000 for construction work he never performed and attempted to sell a lot he no longer owned to two separate parties.